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Lumen-traveling biological interface device and method of use

  • US 8,660,642 B2
  • Filed: 07/12/2011
  • Issued: 02/25/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2004
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of emplacing a neural stimulation device, comprising:

  • causing an untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within a body tube tree of a subject toward a target site;

    detecting with a sensor on the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device a branch point including two or more branches within the body tube tree;

    selecting a branch at the branch point at least partially based on detecting one or more of an electrical resistivity, a density, a sound speed, an osmolality, an index of refraction, a pressure, a temperature, a blood flow, a direction of blood flow, a viscosity, a shear, a pH, a presence or absence of a chemical, or a man-made structure;

    upon detecting the branch point, causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to enter the branch leading toward the target site;

    causing the untethered self-propelling neural stimulation device to stop traveling upon reaching the target site; and

    delivering a neural stimulus at the target site.

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